Common prayers & poems

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

Be not afraid,

I go before you always.

Come follow me,

and I will give you rest.

Isaiah 43

Should you go and I remain,

to walk the road alone,

I'll live in memories garden, dear,

with happy days we've known.

In spring I'll wait for roses red, when

faded, the lilacs blue.

In early fall when brown leaves fall,

I'll catch a glimpse of you.

I'll hear your voice, I'll see your

smile, tho blindly I may grope.

The memory of your helping hand

will buoy me on with hope.

Should you go first and I remain,

one thing I'll have you do:

Walk slowly down that long long

path, for soon I'll follow you.

I want to know each step you take,

So I may take the same.

For someday down that lonely road,

you'll hear me call your name.

Comfort

Another leaf has fallen, another soul has gone. But still we have God's promises, in every robin's song. For He is in His Heaven, and though He takes away. He always leaves to mortals, the bright sun's kindly ray. He leaves the fragrant blossoms, and lovely forests, green. And gives us new found comfort, when we on Him will lean.

"They that instruct many to justice shall shine as stars for all eternity." Daniel 12:3

LET US PRAY O Lord, hear our prayers, in which we humbly ask of Thy mercy that Thou would give to the soul of Thy servant which Thou has commanded to leave this world, a place in the land of light and peace, and bid that he be made a companion of Thy saints, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight,

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die.

THE ELEVEN O'CLOCK TOAST

My brothers and friends, you have heard the tolling of eleven strokes. This is to remind us that with Elks the hour of eleven has a tender significance. Wherever an Elk may roam, whatever his lot in life may be, when this hour falls upon the dial of night the great heart of Elkdomswells and throbs. It is the golden hour of recollection, the homecoming of those who wander, the mystic roll call of those who will come no more. Living or dead, an Elk is never forgotten, never forsaken. Morning and noon may pass him by, the light of day sink heedlessly in the West, but here the shadows of midnight shall fall, the chimes of memory will be pealing forth the friendly message, "To our absent brothers."

FIREMAN'S PRAYER

When I am called to duty, God, whenever flames may rage, give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, and quickly, and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling, and to give the best in me, to guard my every neighbor and protect his property. And if, according to my fate, I am to lose my life, please bless with your protecting hand my family, friends and wife.

One night a man had a dream, he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one his, and the other the LORD's.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied, "My precious child, I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

God saw you getting tired,

And a cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around you

and whispered "Come to Me."

With tearful eyes we watched you,

and saw you pass away.

Although we loved you dearly,

We could not make you stay.

Your golden heart stopped beating,

Your hard working hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

God looked around his garden

And found and empty place.

He then looked down upon the earth,

and he saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you

And lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful,

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,

He knew that you would never get

well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough,

And the hills were hard to climb.

So He closed your weary eyelids,

and whispered "Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you didn't go alone

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.

Goin' home goin' home

I'm goin ' home

Quiet-like, some still day,

I'm just goin' home.

It's not far, just close by,

Through an open door,

Work all done, care laid by,

Goin' to fear no more.

Mother's there, expecting me,

Father waitting, too,

All the friends I knew,

Morning star lights the way,

Restless dreams all done,

Shadows gone, break of day,

Real life just began.

Hail Mary full of grace,

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now, and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

I Do Not Go Alone

If Death should beckon me with outstretched hand and whisper softly of "An Unknown Land"; I shall not be afraid to go. For though the path I do not know, I take Death's Hand without a fear, for He who safely brought me here will also take me safely back. And though in many things I lack, He will not let me go alone into the "Valley That's Unknown"... So I reach out and take Death's Hand and journey to the "Promise Land".

May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, And rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again, May God keep you in the hollow of His hand.

Jesus! Mary! Joseph!

O GENTLEST HEART of Jesus ever present in the Blessed Sacrament ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in Purgatory, have mercy on the soul of Thy servant and bring Thy servant far from the shadows of exile to the bright home of heaven, where we trust Thou and Thy Blessed Mother have woven a crown of unfading bliss. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, thy will

be done, on earth as it is in

heaven. Give us this day our

daily bread. And forgive us our

trespasses, as we forgive those

who trespass against us. And

lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen

May the angels take you into Paradise: may the martyrs come to welcome you on your way, and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of angels welcome you, and with Lazarus who once was poor may you have ever lasting rest.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercesion, was left unaided. Relying on this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother. To you I come, before you I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.

Amen

Perhaps

Perhaps you sent a lovely card

Or sat quietly in a chair;

Perhaps you sent a floral spray,

If so, we saw it there.

Perhaps you spoke the kindest words

As any friend could say;

Perhaps you were not there at all

Just thought of us that day.

Wherever you did

To console our hearts,

We thank you so much,

Whatever the part.

Most merciful Father, we commend our departed into your hands. We are filled with the sure hope that our departed will rise again on the Last Day with all who have died in Christ. We thank You for all the good things You have given during our departed's earthly life.

O Father, in Your great mercy, accept our prayer that the Gates of Paradise may be opened for Your servant. In our turn, may we too be comforted by the words of faith until we greet Christ in glory and we are united with You and our departed.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Your gentle face and patient smile, with sadness we recall. You had a kindly word for each, and died beloved by all. The voice is mute and stilled the heart, that loved us well and true. Ah, bitter was the trial to part from one so good as you. You are not forgotten loved one, nor will you ever be. As long as life and memory last, we will remember thee. We miss you now, our hearts are sore, as time goes by we miss you more, your loving smile, your gentle face, no one can take your vacant place.